THE Astounding SCIENCE FICTION ANTHOLOGY by JOHN W

Softly, in the dim room, a gong clanged. Numerals of white fire flickered against the image in the cube. An arrow of red flame pointed. At its point was a tiny fleck of black. The gong throbbed again, and another black mote came up out of the clouds. A third followed. Presently there were six. ................
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